Abstract: A method is disclosed for reconstructing an image from a total internal reflection hologram that includes the steps of arranging the hologram in relation to the first face of a coupling body, generating a substantially collimated illumination beam, directing the beam through a second face of the coupling body so that it reconstructs the image recorded in the hologram, recycling at least once the light in the illumination beam that is reflected from the hologram by redirecting it through the second face of the coupling body so that it also reconstructs the image recorded in the hologram, and scanning the illumination and recycled beams across the hologram, for the purpose of increasing the effective reconstruction efficiency of the total internal reflection hologram.